Lacrosse Recruiting Part 3 (Commitment Time) - From Blue Chip 225

Last time we spoke about the how and when of contact and communications with college coaches. Today's article covers the how and when of making a commitment.

The BR Staff

It's Commitment Time . . . You've been through the process, navigated all the rules, and the coach makes an offer. What are the rules of what happens next?

You can make a Verbal Commitment to a college. This is your commitment to a college and by a college to you. What is most significant about this is that it is NOT BINDING ON EITHER PARTY.

It is only when you sign a National Letter of Intent through the NCAA which commits you to attend a specific college for one year and for that college to provide you an agreed upon amount of athletic financial aid for that year. The NCAA has a web page with full details on this. If you are at this point read it carefully

Lacrosse Recruiting Part 2 (communications) - From Blue Chip 225

Last time we spoke about the basics of the recruiting process.  Today's article covers the how and when of contact and communications with college coaches. The next article will cover commitment time.

The BR Staff

Phone Calls

Simply put - you can call college coaches at your own expense anytime after you start your Freshman year.  

• DII and DIII coaches can call you anytime.
• DI coaches cannot call you until July 1st after your Junior year.    

Campus Visits

This is a simple one: you can visit the campus of any college anytime on an "unofficial visit," that is, one that is not arranged by or paid for by the college.  

Once you start your Senior year you can make "Official visits" to a limited number of colleges. (no limit to DIII colleges)  Official visits are visits to campus by you and/or your family invited by and paid for by the college.  Before you can receive an invitation for an official visit you must have submitted certain material to the college and NCAA. 

Off-Campus Contact 

Simply, this means any time a coach talks face to face with you or your family anywhere but on the campus of the college anymore than a greeting.   This kind of contact is limited both by your grade and the NCAA Recruiting Calendar.   In case this isn't confusing enough, the rules for DII and DIII programs are slightly different.  Click here to read the exact rules.

The Recruiting Calendar
The NCAA establishes periods which control what coaches can and cannot do.  They publish a calendar each year on their website.  The periods include: 

• Contact Period - Coach may have in-person contact with you or your parents off the college campus, and may watch you play or visit your high school.  He may write or call as well. 

• Dead Period - Coaches may not have any in-person contact with your or your family.
   
• Evaluation Period - Coach may watch you play or visit your high school, but cannot have any in-person conversations.  You can visit the college, and the coach may write or call you.
   
• Quiet Period - Coach cannot have any in-person contact with you or your parents off the college campus, nor can he watch you play or visit your high school.  He may write or call your parents. 

See the calendars here at 

Remember that the permissions granted by the calendar are limited by your grade level.  

The Basics of Lacrosse Recruiting - From Blue Chip 225

One of the topics we receive the most questions on is recruiting.  Over the next few days we will be posting articles and information on this topic.  Please let us know your specific questions for the we can address them.

Today's article covers the basics.  Rather than recreating the wheel we have found a great overview put together by the coaches of Blue Chip 225. 

The next article will cover phone calls, emails, calendars and campus visits

The BR Staff

The Game Rules of Lacrosse Recruiting

(From Blue Chip 225)

Whether it's lacrosse or Scrabble, the first thing you do in any game is learn the rules.  If you don't know the rules your chances of winning are pretty slim.

This is as true for college sports recruiting as it is for any other endeavor subject to rules and regulations.  The entire process of recruiting is structured and controlled by the rules of the NCAA.  Knowing the rules helps you know what to do and what to expect along the way.  Know the rules - win the game. 

When Does It Start? . . . 

The rules for college sports recruiting identify you as a "prospective student-athlete" when you enter 9th grade or even before if any college gives you, your family or friends, any benefits it does not give its students generally.  So, generally, if you're a freshmen you are part of the game of recruiting under the NCAA recruiting regulations.  Click here for a complete glossary of recruiting terms.

Who Can Talk To Whom When About What?

There are very specific rules that define when and how coaches can talk to families and/or players, and when and how players and families can communicate with coaches. 

There are three sets of rules that operate 

• Your grade 
• Time of year

• The division of the college

Recruiting Overview For Freshmen -  More info

 If you're a freshmen, coaches from DII and DIII programs can send you written materials; they can call you without limitation, and you may call them at your own expense.  You may make unofficial visits to DII or DIII colleges. You may NOT have in-person contact with college coaches from any division other than a greeting.  

Recruiting Overview For Sophomores - More Info

For DI: As a sophomore you may receive brochures, NCAA materials, and non-athletics recruiting materials. You may call coaches at your own expense, but the coach cannot call you.  You are allowed no off-campus contact, but you may make unofficial visits (except during "dead" periods."  DII and DIII communication is the same as for Freshmen. 

Recruiting Overview For Juniors - More Info

For DI: After September 1 of your Junior year coaches can send your written recruiting materials, and can call you after July 1st.  You are allowed to have off-campus contact with coaches after July 1st, and you can make an unlimited number of unofficial visits (except during "dead" periods). DII and DIII communication is the same as for Freshmen. 

Recruiting Overview For Seniors - More Info

For DI:  Two things are different once you start your Senior year.  Beginning on the first day of class you can make one official visit to each of up to five colleges.  During this year college coaches are limited to a maximum of three contacts with you or your family.  There is a maximum of seven evaluations and contacts by coaches until you sign a National Letter of Intent, a written offer of admission and/or financial aid OR you make a financial deposit. After that there is no limit to the number of contacts and evaluations you may have.   DII and DIII communication is the same as for Freshmen. 

Ohio State - Thoughts From A Day With The Coaching Staff

January 14, 2015 - Ohio State 
One of the best parts of club coaching is getting to visit the college coaches.  This allows us to watch the latest drills, pick their brains on new developments, and hear from them what they are looking for in future recruits. On Jan 14 we caught up with the Ohio State staff.

Practice
Fast paced and intense.  There was very little down time.  The coaches name the drills, touch on the focus points, and the players got to work at full speed.

• Warmups: Dynamic stretching, star drills and goalie shooting.
• Individual skills: Offense - shooting, Defense - approaches
• Individual skills: Outlets / approaches / Slides / GBs
• Unit Work: Dodges / Footwork / Positioning
• Unit Work: FO / Wing play
• Team Work: Full field drills

Takeaways - We picked up a couple of GB drills that will help with getting the ball up and moving.  We also gain some insight into how to increase the tempo of practice.


Recruiting 
After practice we had a chance to meet with the coaching staff and discuss several topics of interest.  One of the topics was recruiting.  Specifically, what they looked for in a commit and where they were in the process.  We were thrilled to hear that they had just committed a 2015 from the Midwest.  Given the sped up recruiting cycle it is good to know that late developing players can still find a home at top Division 1 schools.  (see our article on recruiting).  So what are they looking for?  The coaching staff was clear as to what players could do to gain their attention:

1. Play fast - Players who can make decisions faster / under pressure have an advantage.  This is one of the reasons they and others look to the hotbed areas for recruits.  Those players play faster and face tougher competition which enables them to get up to college speed sooner.
   
2. Great fundamentals - Have the basics down cold.  The means having your stick vertical and up at all times, thrown tight passes (no loops), using two hands on GBs, dodging heard to the cage, having you footwork down on defense, correct body position for goalies, etc.
3. Hustle -  Stand out on the field for your hustle / drive. This impresses the coaches and tells them that you are willing to work hard.  At the college level there is not a big skills set difference between players (some teams have 40+ All-Americans on their rosters).  What separates the best is their effort, dedication to practice, and desire to make plays on the field.  Show the coaches that you have that desire to work to be the best.